Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/122

92 Donna Marina, understanding fully what had passed, told Cortes. Upon this our captain again consoled the caciques and bade them take courage, for he would punish the Mexicans. They were already aware, he explained, that our king had sent him to chastise evil doers and to permit neither kidnapping nor sacrifice, and this these tax gatherers planned. He would, therefore, make them prisoners until their master, Montezuma, should learn the reason, namely, that they had come to carry into slavery women and children and to do other deeds of violence.

The caciques were thunderstruck. They durst not lay hands on tax-gatherers of the mighty Montezuma. But Cortes exhorted them so well that at last they took courage and seized the tax men and securely fastened them by collars to long poles; and one who would not permit them to bind him got a flogging in addition. This done, Cortes commanded the caciques to pay no more obedience and no more tribute to Montezuma—an order not for them alone but for all their friendly and allied towns where, if other tax gatherers came, those also he should make prisoners.

Rumor of this high-handed order spread throughout the country, for the fat cacique lost no time in sending messengers to tell the tidings, while the chiefs who had accompanied the tax gatherers hastened home with the astounding news. Deeds so